XADM: Error Message Installing Exchange Server on a Computer Running Windows 2000 Server

When you try to install either Exchange Server 5.5 or Exchange 2000 Server on a computer that is running Windows 2000 Server, you may receive an error message.

When you try to install Exchange Server 5.5, you may receive the following error message: Then the Setup program stops responding.

When you try to install Exchange 2000 Server, the Action list in the Component Selection dialog box may be empty. When you try to click Typical, Minimal, or Custom in the Action list, you may receive the following error message: You receive this error message even if you are currently logged on as a user with Enterprise and Domain Administrator privileges. If you try to run Setup with the /domainprep switch, you receive a similar error message that mentions the "Domain Preparation" component.

This issue can occur if the remote registry service did not start.

To resolve this issue, start the Windows 2000 Server remote registry service, and run Exchange Server Setup or Exchange 2000 Server Setup again.

This behavior is by design. Exchange Server and Exchange 2000 Server require remote access to the registry, even if you install Exchange Server and Exchange 2000 Server locally.